Pictured above: (l-r) Former Shipston Mayor, Alan Noyce and
husband of Angela, who the development is named after, with
Warwickshire Rural Housing Association's Chairman Derrick
Dyas
A development of affordable housing has been completed in a
Cotswold market town, where property prices far exceed the national
average.
Angela's Meadow, comprising 26 homes built on the site of a
disused barn, has enabled those with a work or family connection to
Shipston-on-Stour to settle in the town, despite being priced out
of the open market.
Completion of the development, named after Shipston resident
Angela Noyce, an active member of the community who passed away
last year, was marked by an event on Saturday (25th September) for
residents of the new homes.
There was an acoustic guitarist, five large lawn games,
including Connect Four, and a hog roast. A commemorative
stone was unveiled by Angela's husband and former town mayor Alan
and a ribbon was cut by current mayor Simon Welch to open the
children's play area.
Derrick Dyas, chairman of Warwickshire Rural Housing Association
(WRHA), which owns and manages the homes and organised the event,
said: "I was delighted that the sun shone down on our gathering as
it allowed plenty of opportunity for both the formal speeches to
take place as well as meeting the children, residents and local
people who were obviously enjoying their new community and the
facilities it offered - especially the play area.
"I was particularly pleased that many of the concerns previously
expressed about the development had been overcome with a true
partnership spirit and a realisation that what had been achieved
was beneficial for the people of Shipston.
"I hope a really dynamic relationship will develop between the
new residents of Angela's Meadow and the Girl Guides who occupy the
neighbouring camp site. I am sure Angela Noyce would have wanted
that as the two communities have much to offer each other."
The average house price in the Cotswolds is £344,293,
compared to the UK average of £224,064 (source BBC News
online*). A housing needs' survey carried out by WRHA,
working with Shipston Town Council, revealed a clear call for
houses and bungalows for affordable rent.
Funding contributions toward the cost of the £3.7million
development were received from sources including the Homes and
Communities Agency (HCA), the national housing and regeneration
agency for England, (£1.7m), and Stratford-on-Avon District
Council (£500,000).
Baggi Matu, east area team investment and regeneration manager
for the HCA West Midlands said: "With the gap between average
earning and house prices increasing within rural communities, it is
important that we support high quality, affordable housing schemes
such as this to assist those who are being priced out of the
villages in which they grew up."
Victoria and Simon Clifton were among those to make the most of
the opportunity and snap up one of the new homes. They describe
their move into a two bedroom house as "100 per cent" right for
their family.
The couple previously lived in a maisonette in Shipston,
historically a working wool town known as Sheep-wash-Town. While
their last home had a garden, it wasn't enclosed making it
difficult to keep an eye on their lively two-year-old son,
Riley.
Mrs Clifton said: "We wanted to stay in Shipston because we
really like it here but it's quite expensive to buy which is why we
considered Warwickshire Rural Housing Association. It was 100 per
cent the right thing for us to do because the new house is great
and it's worked out so well for our family."
Jephson Homes Housing Association developed the homes in London
Road, on behalf of WRHA, a specialist provider of rural housing,
which supports the sustainability of rural communities through its
policy that only people with an existing tie to an area can take a
tenancy.
The 24 houses and two bungalows meet the Joseph Rowntree
lifetime homes standard, including the potential to house a lift
and incorporate level wheelchair access, and have systems that
harvest rainwater to service toilet cisterns and washing machines
and that redirect internal heat to radiators and the hot water
system.
* Average house price data taken from BBC News online:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/uk_house_prices/html/23uc.stm